Sexually Transmitted Disease Rates are Surging: A Matter of Life and Death

Abstract

After reaching historic lows decades ago, rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have surged since 2020. Health officials claim that the pandemic was responsible for igniting this rise, citing a halt in testing, treatment, and surveillance of STIs as isolation began, and resources were reallocated to address coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) issues. Others cite the overall shift in lawmaking since the early 2000s that has scaled back interventions geared toward controlling STI spread. Regardless of the root cause, this surge demands immediate attention due to the severe damage that these infections can cause, including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease. In this paper, we examine this issue medically, socially, ethically, and from a public health perspective. The symptoms, treatments, complications, and testing strategies for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are analyzed while highlighting at-risk groups and discussing mitigation strategies. The social implications of this current crisis are then explored, reviewing what approaches have been made for this issue so far. Next, we ground this issue in the harm reduction theory to advocate for the ethics of our proposed interventions. We conclude with recommendations at the individual, community, and federal levels to help reverse the surge in STIs and prevent further harm.